Dear S. Paripuran Sing! Tam told that the Indian contingent walked out of the dinner dance on October 18, 1986, at the Mariott Marquis in New York City. This dinner was hosted by the International Immigrants Society to raise money to honor millions of people who came to the United States from different ethnic groups. This was a disgraceful act and disrespectful on the part of the groups involved and I strongly condemn this action by them.

It bothers me most because Lam told that it was on your advice that the group decided to boycott the event for peace and harmony among various ethnic groups in the US.

If you were instrumental in any way for this bad advice, I regret to say that it was done in bad taste.

‘The Hindu contingent definitely made the wrong decision. I have some difficulty with this decision, although, this was your personal one. The Sikhs were participating as an ethnic group settled in the United States and the Indian Consulate should not get involved in the affairs of various ethnic groups.

This was like interfering in internal affairs of the community living in the United States and taking sides. I can assure you that this is how the Sikhs present at the dinner dance received your role.

 If you were not on the scene probably the Indian contingent would not have left, 1am very ‘much impressed with the handling of the problem by the coordinator, Mr. Joe Haneman, and the other directors of the International Immigrants Society, including Pakistan, China, Ireland and all the other different ethnic groups agreed to resolve the matter by removing the flags of all the contingents Even this beautiful gesture didn’t make the Hindu contingent happy. They left in a rush, never to return again.

I am thankful to the organizers of the event and various ethnic groups for making this event a

SUCCESS.

Mr. Heir, I could have understood the objections to the Sikh flag (Nishan Sahib) by a non Sikh but you very well know that the flag hoisted in the dinner hall was the Sikh religious flag. As a practicing Sikh, you must have paid respect to it in the Sikh Gurdwara (worship hall) and this is the standard flag at all Sikh holy places. Every Sikh religious and cultural event has the same flag (Nishan Sahib) and it is a sign of peace and unity. The world is aware of what is happening in Punjab and India and we are all concerned at the unfortunate situation created by the government of India, but injecting the poison of hatred in harmonious relations of various ethnic groups is most regrettable, especially when a man like you is manipulated into and projected as they did, for achieving their aims. The Hindu contingent would have walked out anyway, but they have fixed the responsibility for their actions on your shoulders.

 I think you owe an explanation to the Sikh community at large for your defection. Naunihal Sing Dir. Adm. WS.O.

Article extracted from this publication >> October 31, 1986